It’s not a word you’ll find in Webster’s, but Strategery* could be a new term for our process of keeping a restoration project—and clients’ interests—ahead of the curve.

Exterior restoration considerations go beyond analysis, design, and execution of remedial measures—from strategy to…strategery, if you will.

For each project, we consider an overlay of multiple considerations: logistics, scheduling, supply chain issues, and compliance with local regulatory frameworks (especially in NYC).

For example, duration: How long will a repair campaign last? A project might be “comfortably” completed in two construction seasons. It could be compressed into a single season, but with an increased level of disruption to building use. Which does the client prefer?

If the client opts for a protracted construction schedule that requires a sidewalk shed in place for two years, should it invest in an upscale alternative like Urban Umbrella?

Supply chain: Some materials have long lead times that define the critical path of a project. Terra cotta, for example, is notorious for its long lead time. Are acceptable substitutes available?

Surprisingly, brick delivery can also define a project’s critical path. Bricks are a national market, and the requirements of a Brooklyn restoration project are small compared with the construction of a new high school. Small-order custom bricks are more expensive, but it may be worth paying a premium if procuring a few dozen allows the project to be completed on time.

Contractors: Even among top-tier contractors, some are better fits for certain types of projects. A large, flat roof is different from a landmark restoration. At any given time, we work with roughly 50 different contractors, so we know their strengths and weaknesses.

Economy of Scale: Getting there is half the fun (and frequently most of the expense) when a building is rigged for restoration. While performing essential repairs, does it make sense to address nearby maintenance or cosmetic issues that might ultimately require remediation?

Special Requests: Can the restoration work be staged so that the rooftop terrace can be used for the building’s annual July 4^th celebration?

NYC Local Law 11 (FISP): NYC’s facade inspection law mandates “drops” at maximum 60-foot intervals around the entire facade perimeter.  If restoration work is being performed right now, can those drops count toward compliance with the upcoming FISP Cycle 10, even though it may be years away? Yes, if correctly “strategerized.”

*“Strategery” was coined when Will Ferrell satirized George W. Bush’s creative language on an episode of Saturday Night Live that aired in 2000.